Atomizing type oil fogger



Feb. 22, 1938. M MARKLE ET AL. 2,109,136

ATOMIZING TYPE OIL FOGGER Filed Sept. 8, 193] 4 Sheets-Sheet l a 610 ar e B ago/'0? W126 file j I I awa/a Fag. 22, 1938. M. G. MARKLE H M 2,109,136

ATOMIZING TYPE OIL FOGGER Filed Se t. 8, 193] v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 TEMP! OF GAS f THRU savanna]? GRS TRAVEL By (I! 0/6/2 Tattle 4 Watt Feb 22, 19318.

M. G. MARKLE ET AL ATOMIZING TYPE QIL FOGGER Filed Sept. 8, 1931 4 sheets-sheet 3 4 sheets-sheet 4 Jive/2mm: wGWa/"Me M. G. MARKLE Er AL ATOMIZING TYPE OIL FOGGER 7 Filed Sept. 8, 1931 Feb. 225, 1938.

Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE ATOIWIZING TYPE OIL FOGGER Matthew G. Markle, Lake Blue, and Loren W. Tuttle, Mount Prospect, 111.

Application September 8, 1931, Serial No. 561,629

1 Claim. (01. 48190) Our invention relates to a method of and the full explanation of the persistence of our fog means for fogging gas. is, but we submit the following as our present Combustible gas for fuel and illumination is ieory of the action involved:- widely distributed through pipe lines and con- We conceive that the size of a particle of liq- 5 duits provided With expansion joints, valves, uid which will be carried a certain distance in 5 cocks and the like where there is opportunity for a stream of gas of a given composition moving leakage to occur. It has long been known that if at a certain velocity is substantially fixed. If the packing and surfaces of such fittings are kept e emper u e of th gas OD the Size of the wet with oil or an oily liquid, the leakage can liq id pa t c es d es not Change pp but I be greatly reduced if not substantially elimithe drops approach each other more closely be- 10 nated. cause of the shrinkage of the body of gas. Also,

In artificial gas the process of manufacture if any of the oil in vapor form is present, it tends provides or can readily provide the necessary to condense upon the particles in liquid form. amount of sealing liquid tobe carried by the gas Hence, we conceive that formation of the fog 5 for thus sealing the minute openings which would hot and subsequent chilling of the same is unotherwise pass gas and thereby permit leakage. favorable to a maximum of persistence. Our

Natural gas, the distribution of which from experiments and observations confirm this remote fields and over wide areas is now rapidly theory. progressing, is very dry. Other dry gases besides According to our process, the fog is formed cold natural gas have the same tendency. It contains and is introduced into the gas which is preferably 20.

no appreciable amount of oil or like liquid and at a temperature higher than that of the fog.

in fact it not only fails to supply the desired liq- There are a number of practical advantages uid seal or lubricant, but actually tends to dry it flowing from this mode of operation. First, there up wherever provided. As a result, it has been is no necessity for applying heat. This avoids found necessary to provide the desired liquid conexpense of apparatus and heat, and avoids the 25 tent by injecting into the gas finely divided oil difficulties of maintenance which heating appapreferably in the shape of a so-called oil fog to ratus entails. Second, due to the greater permake up for the lack of water as well as oil in sistence of the fog, a higher economy of Oil is these dry gases. secured and the effect is more far reaching.

It is desirable that the oil so introduced be The means which we employ vo ves a 30 carried along with the gas to relatively great ber of novel features, some of which are the foldistances so that it will wet or lubricate the fitlowing:-The fog producing nozzles are Venturi tings such as cocks, valves, etc. at all points in nozzles and serve not only to atomize the oil, the system to keep the same tight. Any excess but also, and this is important, serve to meter oil fog which does not deposit upon the surfaces it in a fairly close proportion to the gas passing 35 desired merely passes on with the gas into the through the same.

burners and is consumed. It has been attempted The fogging chamber serves as a separating heretofore to form a suitable oil fog, but so far chamber to separate out any particles which are as we have been. able to ascertain the means and too large to be transported by the current of gas.

40 methods heretofore employed have been expen- This separation is performed partly by centrif- 40 sive and wasteful. ugal separation and scrubbing against the walls There are a number of reasons for this which of the chamber and also partly by gravity. We Will more plainly appear from the following specrr n e o produ e a l or greater separating ification describing the construction and pracon y adjusting the position the Chamber tics of our invention, but chief among these reawhere the outlet is located. 45 sons, as we believe, is that previous oil f oggers In order to secure the necessary pressure dif-- have proceeded upon the theory of forming the ference to develop an atomizing effect, we dispose fog from hot oil, or form and utilize the same in the oil fogger in shunt of a pressure reducing such manner as not to secure the full benefit valve so that from 3 to 5 pounds pnessure difof the thermodynamic action. We provide what ierence is available. Obviously our invention is 50 We conceive to be a far superior method of formnot dependent upon use of the fogger at this paring the fog in that We form the fog cold and ticular location, but important practical advanthrow it into a warmer current of gas, or at least tages are thereby secured. It may be desirable intoa current of gas not substantially colder. to introduce fog as a point where no pressure We are not able to say with certainty just what reduction is made. In that case means such as 55 a pump may be employed to make the necessary pressure difference to secure proper atomization.

It is not desirable to force all the gas to pass through the fogger because of the size of the unit which would be required. By forming the fog with a part of the gas and delivering the fog into the main stream of gas, it is possible to keep the apparatus small in size and at the same time the advantage of delivering the fog cold into a slightly warmer body of gas is readily attainable. The main flow of gas passes through the main pressure regulator where it expands from a suitable transmission pressure to a suitable distribution pressure, but with no substantial change in temperature. The fogging stream of gas which is always proportional to the main stream does the work of atomizing the liquid and suffers an appreciable drop in temperature. The two streams unite and carry a highly persistent fog.

Another feature of our invention resides in the provision of means for keeping a substantially constant level of oil in the fogging chamber. The fogging chamber contains in its lower end a body of oil from which the nozzles draw oil for atomization and into which the larger particles thrown out by the separating action are returned. A further feature of novelty resides in the supply means for maintaining the desired oil level and the means for recharging said supply means with oil.

The oil fogging unit may be located anywhere in the system where a pressure difference of from 3 to 5 pounds or more is available.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a fogging station embodying the present improvements and by means of which the improved method can be carried out;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic elevation of the atomizing chamber and oil supply tank and oil feed regulating and charging connections.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the atomizing chamber and associated gas pressure regulators.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of an atomizing nozzle.

Figure 6 is a graph illustrating, in a general way, the relative temperature of the gas after passing through the gas regulators with reference to the temperature of the gas fog after passing through the atomizing nozzles.

Gas to be conveyed a substantial distance is transmitted under considerable pressure for obvious reasons, and pressure reducing valves are required for reducing the pressure as the gas passes from a main to a lower pressure section of the system, such as the distribution network that leads to the customers outlets. Such pressure reducing valves are automatic in action and generally are placed in manholes or vaults built in the ground at a proper depth. In. the drawings such a structure is indicated at I0, and passing through the same is a gas conduit II, the high pressure side being at the bottom of the figure. The gas flows in the direction indicated by the arrow l2 and passes through the automatic pressure reducing valve or regulator l3 of conventional construction. Manually operable valves M and I5 generally are provided for use as may be required. The gas after passing through the valve |3 enters pipe I6 at suitably reduced pressure. The drop in pressure from the higher pres sure side to the lower pressure side may be any usual or preferred amount, but should, in the present construction, be at least 3 to 5 pounds per square inch. The pressure on the gas consumption outlets connected to pipe H5 is of the order of 6 inches of water.

The fogging apparatus of the present improvements may suitably be installed in manholes of the type mentioned or in any desired location. The apparatus comprises an atomizing tank I! and oil reservoir I8 and associated parts. The tank IT as shown is provided with a plurality of atomizing nozzles I9 which are connected through suitably shaped elbows 28 to fittings passing through and fixed to the floor of the tank. The nozzles l9 preferably are disposed at an angle to the horizontal, as shown in Figure 3, and also at angles with respect to the radii of the base of the cylindrical tank H as illustrated in Figure 4 to give the discharge from the nozzles a helical upward travel within the tank H.

The pipe 2| which forms a by-pass about the main pressure reducing valve I3, conveys gas from the higher pressure conduit H to a manifold having branch pipes or headers 22, 23 and 24 as illustrated in Figure 4.

The gas flowing through pipe 2| is utilized in the nozzles I9 for atomizing the oil and for carrying the oil fog thus formed into the low pressure main through the pipe 3 I.

Between thepressure regulator l3 and the low pressure main where the pipe 3| joins the same, we have introduced a fitting, including an orifice plate 50 as shown in Figure 1. The function of the orifice plate is to provide a pressure difference having a definite relation to the gas flow through that part of the main flow which is later joined by the stream of fog carrying gas. It is desirablethat the fiow of gas through the bypass 2|, tank IT and pipe 3| should be proportional to the flow through the orifice plate 50, so that the amount of fog is proportional to the total amount of gas flow. It will be observed the entire flow of gas through the pipe 2| passes through a diaphragm control valve 25, and then joins the manifold to which pipes 22, 23 and 24 are connected. The valve 25 is a shut-off valve which is operated by a diaphragm to shut oif the flow of gas through the pipe 2| when the pressure on the delivery side of the regulator exceeds a predetermined value. We have shown the diaphragm chamber of this valve 25 as connected to the low pressure main I6 through the connection 52. unit through the pipe 2| and the branch pipe 23 and the two nozzles connected thereto is designed to be sufiicient to supply the night time load. If, however, the feed through the pipe 2| should be so excessive as to increase the pressure in the main l6 above predetermined value, this pressure acting through the connection 52 and the diaphragm chamber of the valve 25 shuts oil the by-Dass 2|, stopping further operation of the fogging device or the flow of gas through said bypass 2|.

The diaphragm chambers of valves 26 and 21 are connected by suitable pipes 53 and 54 to the opposite sides of the orifice plate 50. The valve 26 is designed to open with a snap action at a suitable pressure difference corresponding to a definite flow through the pipe Hi. Similarly, the valve 21 is designed to open with a snap action for a higher pressure difference corresponding to higher flow at pipe l6. Thus the number of The flow of gas through the fogging l nozzles which are active to form fog are proportioned roughly, or approximately, to the flow of gas through the orifice plate 50.

The valves 25, 26, and 21 are snap action valves, that is, close and open sharply, inasmuch as no throttling action upon the nozzles is desired, full pressure of the gas being necessary for proper atomizing operation of these nozzles.

Vfhen higher pressures are available so that atomizing is effective even if throttling is practiced, these valves may be made of the throttling type to control the flow of gas through the fogging unit in proportion to the flow through the main gas flow.

The nozzles l9, as shown in Figure 5, may each comprise a threaded socket by means of which it is secured to the fitting or pipe nipple 20. The type of nozzle illustrated in Figure 5 is a Venturi nozzle which has a longitudinal passage which, at 1%, is constricted to form a throat while the remainder of the passage I90 increases in cross section to the outer end of the nozzle.

Extending through the wall of each nozzle I9 is an oil feed tube 28, the inner end of which projects into the passage I90 a short distance beyond the constriction 19b. The outer or lower ends of the tubes 28 project beneath the surface of the oil 29 which is maintained in the bottom of the tank I! at substantially a constant level.

The gas in passing through the nozzles I9 is accelerated in velocity by the constricted ope-ning l9'b with a consequent reduction in pressure, and this reduction in pressure draws oil through the tubes 28 and the velocity of the gas effects the atomization of the same. The angular disposition of the nozzles I9, as above described, results in the body of gas and oil fog Within the tank being given a swirling or helical motion with the result that the larger particles of the oil mist are carried by centrifugal force toward and against the vertical wall of the tank to secure a so-called scrubbing action. Such heavier particles will coalesce or condense and drop to the bottom of the tank into the body of oil 29 or be thrown against the walls to which they adhere and down which the deposited liquid gravitates. This provides a direct return of the precipitated or separated oil Without any separate return connections. Suitable bailles, as shown in plan View in Figure 4, may be provided to limit or prevent the swirling of the body of oil in the bottom of the tank by the whirling action of the gas therein.

The oil fog passes from the tank I! preferably through a sleeve 3!] which is vertically adjustable along the pipe 3 i. When the sleeve is in its highest position only such oil particles as are fine enough to be carried by the gas will pass through the pipe 3! into the lower pressure gas conduit l6 which conducts the gas to be treated with the oil fog. If a coarser quality of fog is desired, the sleeve may be lowered to limit the centrifugal scrubbing action. I

As the gas and oil fog pass through the passages i9c of nozzles IS, the expansion of the gas results in a lowering of the temperature thereof in accordance with, first, the Joule-Thompson effect and, second, the laws of Boyle and Charles because of the loss of heat incident to the work done in atomizing the oil. This reduction in temperature of the gas and the oil particles below the temperature of the gas current flowing in the pipe 16 increases the capacity of the oil fog to persist longer in the form of small particles and thus travel a relatively greater distance within the gas system for the reason that upon the admission of the lower temperature oil fog into the gas stream in the pipe IS, the relatively higher temperature of the gas tends first to expand the gas carrying the fog, thereby separating the oil particles, and second, to evaporate oil from the surface of the oil particles. This latter action results in the oil particles being further reduced in size and to thereby become more easily carried, hence more persistent. In the oil fogging of gas as heretofore carried on, insofar as we are aware, the oil particles of the fog are not so reduced in temperature at the point of admission into the gas stream as to secure any appreciable beneficial effect. If the oil particles are of a higher temperature than the gas stream, the body of gas carrying the particles upon contact with the colder main stream of gas will contract and thus bring the particles closer together. Also, the chilling tends to condense any vapor upon the liquid particles, thereby increasing their size. The relative temperature of the gas passing through the governor or regulator and of the gas carrying the fog are illustrated in Figure 6.

Another feature of the present invention which assists in efiecting the improved results is that there are no pipe connections at the outlets of the nozzles Hi to prevent or limit the full expansion of the gas and oil fog or to effect a scrubbing action on the oil and cause the particles to coalesce. The freedom of the fog to expand upon leaving the nozzles, the separation of the larger from the finer particles and the conveying of the latter to the main gas stream at a reduced temperature results in the more persistent fogging of the gas.

As mentioned above, the sleeve 30 can be adjusted vertically. When the sleeve is in its highest position only the lightest or finest oil particles will be passed from the tank I1, whereas if the sleeve is lowered fog comprising larger oil particles can be conducted into the gas stream. The sleeve 30 is merely an illustration of means for varying the character of the fog that is conveyed to the gas stream.

The flow of gas to the nozzles l9 may be controlled by any suitable means, as by individual shut-off valves Il a beneath the tank ill or by a valve 2la in pipe 2!. The atomization of the oil may also be controlled automatically if desired, as by diaphragm valves which are responsive to pressure variations in the outlet pipe 16 of the governor or regulator 13, or the nozzles may be turned off and/or on by hand or by clock mechanism according to a time schedule.

It is desirable to maintain the supply of oil 29 in the tank ll substantially constant and for efiecting this object constant level supply apparatus is shown in detail in Figure 3. The reservoir oil tank l8 has a transverse partition or false bottom 32 therein through which a short tube 33 projects into the constant level chamber 34. A connection comprising pipe 35, valve 35 and pipe 46 connects the chamber 34 with the tank I! and when the three way valve 36 is in the position shown in Figure 3, oil can flow to the tank I! to compensate for the oil which passes out as fog and maintain in chamber H the same oil level as prevails in chamber 34. A pipe 50 extends from the upper part of tank I! to valve 45 which in normal position connects pipe 50 to pipe 31 and this in turn extends to a mercury seal and indicator 38 which in turn is connected to a short pipe 39. Extending from the pipe 39 are branches 40 and 4|, the former of which extends to the top of the reservoir H3. The branch 4| communicates with a mercury displacing device, which in the form illustrated, comprises a cylinder 43 provided with a manually operable piston 44. The three-way valve 45 has a pipe connection 5| to the top of chamber 34 which, when the valve 45 is in the position shown in Figure 3, permits gas pressures on the liquid in the bottom parts of tanks I1 and 34 to equalize, and permits gas to pass up the nipple 33 to take the place of liquid flowing down. The pipe 35 is connected to a three-way valve 36 from which extends the pipe 46 which communicates with the chamber 34 of the tank l8 at a point below the level of, the oil contained therein as shown in Figure 3. When the valves 36 and 45 and the piston 44 are in the position shown, oil from chamber 34 can flow through pipes 46 and 35 to the tank H to maintain the oil therein at the proper level, the connection through pipes 5| and. '50 serving to equalize the pressures in the chamber 34 and tank H. The supply device constitutes a constant level maintaining feed of the bird fountain or Mariott bottle type. When the oil in the chamber 34 drops below the end of the tube 33, gas flows up through the neck 33 permitting additional oil to enter the chamber through the tube from the main body of oil 42. The mercury seal is gas tight and prevents admission of air or gas which tends to enter through the pipe 40 as the top of the tank I8 is normally under suction. The level of oil in the chamber 34 and tank I! is thus kept substantially even with the lower end of neck 33. The lowering of the oil in tank |8 allows the pressure therein to rise and hence exert less pressure difference on the mercury seal, one leg of which serves as an indicator in the glass 38.

The two valves 36 and 45 are connected for joint operation as by the bar or link 52 which connects the operating arms or cranks 53 and 54 of the valves 36 and 45, respectively. A common actuating member in the shape of a bell crank lever 55 having an operating handle 56 is adapted to actuate both valves in unison. This handle 56 interlocks with the handle 51 of piston 44. Hence the valves 36 and 45 must be turned through such movement as will shift them to charging positionin this case 90 before the handle 51 of the pump plunger can be raised. Similarly the plunger handle 51 must be depressed before the lever 56 can be swung down to shift the valves to normal position.

To recharge the reservoir or tank |8 with oil, valve 45 is turned 90 degrees counterclockwise to maintain communication of pipe 31 with the tank I! and to close off the pipe 5|. The valve 36 is at the same time likewise turned counterclockwise 90 from the position shown and thus establishes communication between an oil pressure supply line 41 and the pipe 46. The valve 36 in the latter position cuts off communication with the tank H. The piston 44 is then elevated to draw the mercury of the seal into the cylinder or cup 43. Oil from the pressure line 41 is forced through pipe 46 into the chamber 34 and through tube 33 into the reservoir, compression of gas in the upper part of the tank l8 being relieved through pipes 40, 39, 38, 31 and 50 and tank H. The upper end of the pipe 5| being closed by the valve 45, oil does not enter said pipe, and. the portion of the chamber 34 above the level of the lower end of the tube 33 is likewise kept free of oil by the entrapped gas. The tank l8 preferably has all its seams and joints welded and the various pipes entering the same may also be welded to the tank to prevent entrance of air into the tank l8 and thus avoid. flooding the tank I! with oil.

By the present improvements satisfactory fogging can be effected with a pressure differential on the nozzles of only 3 to 5 pounds. With a greater differential the efficiency of the apparatus is increased. It will be seen that no moving parts are employed in effecting the atomization of the oil, no heat is used, and the power employed is obtained from the pressure of the gas conveyed to the nozzles.

The fog formed by the present improvements has been found to be very persistent, affording adequate oiling of parts at a distance of five thousand feet from the fogging station even when used in conjunction with a low pressure distribution system.

It will be apparent that the apparatus described is not limited to the use of oil only, as other liquids may be similarly atomized, if desired, either for treating gas or for analogous purposes. It will also be apparent that the reduction of the temperature of the fog may be effected or amplified by methods or apparatus other than as described above, and also that the relative raising of the temperature of the gas, instead of a reduction in temperature of the fog, is within the scope and spirit of our invention.

We claim:-

A method of fogging a flow of gas as it passes from a transmission conduit to a distribution conduit, which comprises reducing the pressure of so much gas as is required to supply the demand upon the distribution system, dividing the flow into two streams, a main stream and a fogging stream, reducing the pressure of the main stream substantially without doing external work, reducing the pressure of the fogging stream and simultaneously bringing said fogging stream at high velocity into atomizing contact with a stream of fogging oil to load said latter gas stream with oil fog, providing for relatively free expansionof said high velocity flow during atomization to prevent'impingemeht and agglomeration of said fog particles, and maintaining the level of the fogging oil substantially constant whereby said high velocity flow lifts the oil a relatively small but constant distance so that minimum energy of flow is employed in lifting the oil.

MATTHEW G. MARKLE'. LOREN W. TUTTLE. 

